Rocky Mountain Gamer: An early look at new games on the way

By Marc Camron Rocky Mountain Gamer

Posted:
02/28/2013 04:51:02 PM MST

Updated:
02/28/2013 05:07:36 PM MST

"Deep Down" (Courtesy photo)

In addition to announcing the next generation of PlayStation hardware, Sony showed off a few impressive games expected to make the launch window. After all, a gaming system is only as good as the games it plays. Here is a quick look at the games we know are coming:

Deep Down (from Capcom)

Little is known about this medieval-styled adventure game. Some unconfirmed rumors tie this into the "Dragon's Dogma" series. The video shown makes the game look something like "Dark Souls." Whatever it is, it's beautiful. I hope the difficulty level is somewhat less brutal.

Destiny (Activision)

"Destiny" (Courtesy photo)

Legendary game developer "Bungie Studios," most noted as the creators of the "Halo" series, is gearing up its first multi-console release. While "Destiny" will be available on current generation PS3 and Xbox 360 systems, it looks much better on the PS4. One of the first MMOS -- Massively Multiplayer Online Shooters -- "Destiny" has the potential of changing the way shooters are played. Unfortunately, it looks like our "Destiny" is still a ways away, likely a 2014 release.

Diablo III (Blizzard Entertainment)

By the time the console version comes out, "Diablo III" will be a year-and-a-half old. That doesn't diminish the significance of Blizzard releasing one of its high-profile titles outside of the PC and Mac. What should keep things interesting is the expected announcement of the first "Diablo III" expansion pack. With luck, Blizzard will release this for the PS4 and the PC at the same time. Either way, it opens up "Diablo III" to those who don't have high-end PCs to game on, and that's a great thing.

DriveClub (SCEA)

When the "DriveClub" video first started up, everyone at the press conference thought they were looking at the reveal of "Gran Turismo 6." But behind these stunning car models idles a completely different driving experience. Though it still features accurately modeled, real-world cars, and promises driving physics to match, this first-person simulator concentrates on the car club culture. It looks like the "share" button will play heavily into the game, encouraging communities to form like real car clubs do.

Final Fantasy (Square Enix)

"inFAMOUS: Second Son" (Courtesy photo)

The biggest tease at the Sony event, Square Enix showed off a tech-demo video highlighting the "Unreal 4" game engine. Afterward, the head of the developer's "Final Fantasy" division announced that the company will be announcing a "Final Fantasy" game for the system at this year's E3 game expo. Although that's sort of like being engaged to be engaged, at least we know we have something to look forward to.

inFAMOUS: Second Son (SCEA)

Taking place seven years after the Cole McGrath episodes, "inFAMOUS: Second Son" introduces a new protagonist, Delsin Rowe, as well as a new city, Seattle. That's right, at least at this time, the latest "inFAMOUS" will be the first to take place in a real-world location. The government has designated those with superpowers "bio-terrorists" and means to imprison or eliminate the threat they pose.

Killzone: Shadow Fall (SCEA)

The fourth "Killzone" game gets a subtitle instead of a number, and features an all-new planet to fight the Helghans on. Sony presented this as one of its two "big games," and it will likely be a huge draw at the system's launch. While "Killzone" has never gained the following of Microsoft's "Halo," it has always been a solid sci-fi shooter with tons of potential. Given the beautiful graphics and lightning-fast gameplay shown so far, this could be a system seller.

Knack (SCEA)

"Watch Dogs" (Courtesy photo)

There's a reason Sony started the games portion of its showcase with "Knack," a new game property. This cartoony adventure game features a robot named Knack that humans built to assist in a war with the goblins. While Knack starts as just a little dude, he can gather parts and grow in size and strength, yet instantly disassemble himself back to original size to enter small places. The mechanics add a nice twist to what could have been an average platform/adventure game, while the graphics and animation make "Knack" look more like a Pixar cartoon than any game before.

Watch Dogs (Ubisoft)

"Watch Dogs" was first announced at last year's E3 as a 2013 release for current-gen consoles, including the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U. The PS4 release seems to feature improved graphics, though no exclusive features have been announced. The story revolves around Aiden Pearce, a hacker in a futuristic world where electronic equipment -- including omnipresent security cameras watching our every move -- are linked to the same network. This allows Pearce to use the world around him as he pleases, turning the city of Chicago into one giant weapon.

The Witness (SCEA)

While "The Witness" is a smaller game than the others listed -- likely coming as a downloadable title only -- it is no less impressive. From the designer behind the much-acclaimed "Braid," "The Witness" will offer a puzzle-solving adventure in one of the most detailed, colorful worlds ever seen.

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